रथाक्षमात्रैर् इषुभिर् अभ्यवर्षद् घटोत्कचः ॥
रथिनाम् ऋषभं द्रौणिं धाराभिर् इव तोयदः ॥
शरवृष्टिं तु तां प्राप्तां शरैर् आशीविषोपमैः ॥
शातयाम् आस समरे तरसा द्रौणिर् उत्स्मयन् ॥
ततः शरशतैस् तीक्ष्णैर् मर्मभेदिभिर् आशुगैः ॥
समाचिनोद् राक्षसेन्द्रं घटोत्कचम् अरिंदम ॥
स शरैर् आचितस् तेन राक्षसो रणमूर्धनि ॥
व्यकाशत महाराज श्वाविच् छललितो यथा ॥
rathākṣamātrair iṣubhir abhyavarṣad ghaṭotkacaḥ ||
rathinām ṛṣabhaṃ drauṇiṃ dhārābhir iva toyadaḥ ||
śaravṛṣṭiṃ tu tāṃ prāptāṃ śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ ||
śātayām āsa samare tarasā drauṇir utsmayan ||
tataḥ śaraśatais tīkṣṇair marmabhedibhir āśugaiḥ ||
samācinod rākṣasendraṃ ghaṭotkacam ariṃdama ||
sa śarair ācitas tena rākṣaso raṇamūrdhani ||
vyakāśata mahārāja śvāvic chalalito yathā ||
With arrows as thick as chariot axles, Ghaṭotkaca showered Drauṇi, the bull among warriors, as a cloud showers with its streams. That onrushing rain of arrows Drauṇi shattered in battle with arrows resembling serpents, swiftly, smiling. Then with hundreds of sharp arrows, swift and piercing the vitals, he riddled Ghaṭotkaca, the lord of the rākṣasas, O subduer of foes. Studded with those arrows, the rākṣasa at the forefront of battle shone, O great king, like a porcupine bristling with quills.
dd5a051eb1aa · published Jul 19, 2026, 4:49:34 PM UTC
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Against the giant rākṣasa's arrows, thick as chariot axles, Aśvatthāman sets his skill: he shatters the rain "smiling" and riddles his enemy until he bristles like a porcupine. It is telling that raw force is again met by disciplined mastery. The verse teaches that sheer might does not overcome skill: even mighty weapons are powerless before a steady hand; it is not reach or fury but training, composure, and precision that decide a duel.